***
Note this list is not necessarily in
order. They are but suggestions and
items to put in your little TOOL BAG.
1. Stay away from that first drink,
taking the 1st step daily.
2.
Attend AA meetings
regularly and get involved.
3.
Progress is made ONE DAY AT A TIME.
4.
Use the 24 Hour
plan.
5.
Remember,
your disease is incurable,
progressive and fatal.
6.
Do 1st things 1st!.
7.
Don't become too tired.
8.
Eat
at regular hours.
9.
Use the telephone. Hello?
10.
Be active
- don't just sit around. Idle time
will kill you.
11.
Use the Serenity Prayer.
12.
Change
old routines and patterns.
13.
Don't become too hungry.
14.
Avoid loneliness.
15.
Practice control of your anger.
16.
Air your resentments.
17.
Be willing
to help whenever needed.
18.
Be good
to yourself, you deserve it.
19.
Easy
does it.
20.
Get out of the "IF ONLY"
trap.
21.
Remember HOW IT WAS.
Your last drunk, the feelings etc.
22.
Be aware
of your emotions.
23.
Help another
in his/her recovery, extend your
hand, listen.
24.
Try to turn your life
and your will over to your Higher
Power.
25.
Avoid
all mood-altering drugs, read labels
on all medicines.
26.
Turn loose of old ideas.
27.
Avoid drinking
situations/occasions.
28.
Replace old drinking buddies
with new AA buddies.
29.
Read
the Big Book.
30.
Try not to
be dependent on another (sick
relationships..
31.
Be grateful and when not make a GRATITUDE
list.
32.
Get off the "Pity Pot"...the
only thing you'll get is a ring
around your ass and numb feet .
33.
Seek
knowledgeable help
when troubled and or otherwise.
34.
Face it!
You are powerless over alcohol.
35.
Try
the 12 and 12, not just 1 and 12 or
1, 12 and 13!
36.
Let go and Let God.
37.
Use the God bag and the answers: yes,
no or wait I have something better in
store for you. Don't forget to say
thanks.
38.
Find courage to change
through the example of others who
have.
39.
Don't try to test your will power
- Have diarrhea? Try willpower.
40.
Live TODAY,
not YESTERDAY, not TOMORROW -
projection is planning the results
before anything even happens.
41.
Avoid
new emotional involvements the first
year - you end up putting the other
person first and lose sight of
"your" program.
42.
Remember alcohol is - cunning, baffling and
powerful.
43.
Rejoice
in the manageability of your new
life.
44.
Be humble--Humility
is not in thinking of your self more,
but in thinking more of yourself less
often. Watch your ego.
45.
Share
your experience, strength and hope.
46.
Cherish
your recovery.
47.
Dump your
garbage regularly
48.
Get plenty of "restful" sleep.
49.
Stay sober
for you - not someone else -
otherwise it won't work.
50.
Practice
rigorous honesty
with yourself and others.
51.
Progress
is made ONE DAY AT A TIME,
not 10 years in one day!
55.
Make no major
life decisions
the first year.
56.
Get a sponsor
and use him/her. (not just
selectively share..
57.
Know
that no matter what your problems,
someone's had them before. Don't be
afraid to share.
58.
Strive for progress not perfection.
59.
When in doubt ask questions.
The only stupid question is the one
not asked. You weren't afraid to
speak before, so why start now?
60.
Use prayer and meditation...not
just pillow talk, get on those knees.
Put your shoes under the bed just in
case someone's looking.
61.
Maintain a balance:
spiritual, physical, emotional and
mental.
62.
Don't take yourself so seriously- take the disease
seriously!
63.
Learn to take spot check
inventories.
64.
Watch out
for the RED FLAGS or
"triggers" ... things that
give excuses for poor behavior and
inevitable relapse.
65.
Know that it's okay to be human
... just don't drink over it.
66.
Be kind to yourself;
it's about time, don't you think?
67.
Don't use
other substances as a maintenance
program.
68.
Know that whatever it is that's
causing pain - it shall pass.
69.
Stay as away from the DRY DRUNK
SYNDROME as humanly as possible.
70.
Don't give
away more than you can afford to,
your sobriety comes first and must be
the number 1 priority. Protect it at
all costs.
71.
Take down
those bricks from the walls
around you; you'll be able to see the
daylight better. Let people know who
you are.
72.
Get a home group
and attend it regularly.
73.
Know that the light at the end of the
tunnel is not an oncoming train, but
actually a ray of hope. Drop the negativity.
74.
Know that you are not alone,
that's why the "We" is in
the steps.
75. Be willing
to go to any lengths to stay and be
sober.
76.
Know that no matter how bleak and
dark your past may be, your future is
clean, bright and clear if you don't drink today.
77.
Stay
out of your own way.
78.
Don't be in a hurry--remember
"TIME = Things I Must
Earn".
79.
Watch the EGO.
"EGO = Ease God Out".
80.
Protect your sobriety
at all costs. Keep the light on you.
81.
Learn to listen,
not just hear. Be open-minded and
nonjudgmental.
82.
Know that if your insides match
your outsides, everyone looks good.
83.
If the rest of the world looks bad, check yourself
out first.
84.
Gratitude is in the attitude.
85.
When all else fails ... just don't drink.
Up the number of meetings!!!
86.
Remember FEAR
= FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL!
87.
Remember FINE
= Fouled up, Insecure/insane,
Neurotic and Emotionally
imbalanced...watch the FINE.
88.
Handle what you can
and leave the rest, don't overtax
yourself. You can only accomplish so
much in a given 24 hours.
89.
Honesty
and consistency are key factors in
recovery.
90.
Let the little kid in you out - learn how to laugh
from the gut.
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